Does the handbrake of a front-wheel-drive car brake the front or rear wheels?
2 Answers
The handbrake of a front-wheel-drive car brakes the rear wheels. The methods for using the handbrake are: 1. Maintain a certain distance from other vehicles during daily driving. If the car starts to roll backward, immediately step on the foot brake and pull the handbrake; 2. When parking for a long time, pull the handbrake to give your foot a rest and avoid the risk of the car rolling due to accidentally releasing the foot brake; 3. During high-speed driving, use the foot brake to stop the vehicle as much as possible, and do not use the handbrake to forcibly stop the car at high speed; 4. Before driving, check whether the handbrake has been released, and pay attention to the warning light to avoid driving with the handbrake engaged; 5. Do not pull the handbrake too tightly, as this can cause the brake cable to age prematurely and, in severe cases, break directly.
As an experienced car enthusiast, I'd like to talk about the handbrake in front-wheel-drive vehicles. It typically brakes the rear wheels, not the front ones. Since the engine drives the front wheels to provide power, if the handbrake were to act on the front wheels, it would conflict with the drivetrain, potentially causing wear or failure. When parking, especially on slopes, braking the rear wheels provides better stability and prevents the car from rolling backward. Having worked on many cars, I've seen numerous owners neglect handbrake maintenance, such as aging cables or rusted brake discs, leading to poor performance when needed. I recommend regularly checking the handbrake tension and rear brake components, which not only extends their lifespan but also ensures driving safety. Additionally, avoid tampering with the system during modifications—keeping the original factory design is the most reliable approach.
